Resistance training method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A body-securing apparatus for attaching a cord to a body. The apparatus comprises a body-securing portion for securing the body, and a cord-attachment means for securing the cord to the body-securing portion, the cord-attachment means being attached to, and moveable around, the body-securing portion. The body-securing apparatus may be used with an elastic cord for resistance training.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a resistance training apparatus and method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In many sports, resistance training is used to increase the power of the athlete. In hockey, for example, it is important for players to be able to accelerate rapidly, and change direction rapidly during acceleration. In sports such as cross-country skiing, resistance training can help to increase skiers' uphill skiing speed.

[0003] Prior art skating and skiing trainers have been devised to address these needs. For example, stationary off-ice skating machines have been devised. These stationary off-ice skating machines operate in a manner roughly analogous to a stationary exercise bicycle or a stationary rowing machine. That is, the stationary off-ice skating machine enable athletes to move their legs and feet in a skating motion, while providing resistance to this motion. In overcoming this resistance, the skater becomes stronger, which translated to the ice results in a more powerful skater.

[0004] Prior art stationary resistance training apparatuses such as that described above, tend to be bulky and expensive due to the large number of parts required to define the path of movement for the athlete's feet and legs as well as to provide the variable resistance to this movement. These problems have rendered such devices impractical for use by many. Accordingly, a resistance training apparatus and method that helps skaters, skiers and other athletes to increase their power and agility, but is also comparatively inexpensive and portable, is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved body securing apparatus.

[0006] In accordance with this aspect of the present invention there is provided a body securing apparatus comprising a body-securing portion for securing the body, and a cord-attachment means for securing the cord to the body-securing portion, the cord-attachment means being attached to, and moveable around, the body-securing portion.

[0007] An object of a second aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved resistance training apparatus.

[0008] In accordance with this aspect of the present invention there is provided a resistance training apparatus comprising an elastic cord for attaching to the athlete to resist movement tending to elongate the elastic cord; and a recoil unit for retracting the elastic cord, a first end of the elastic cord being recoilably attached to the recoil unit such that the elastic cord is retractable into the recoil unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] A detailed description of the preferred embodiments is provided herein below with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1, in a side sectional view, illustrates a resistance training apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2, in a side sectional view, illustrates the recoil unit of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3, in a side sectional view, illustrates the recoil unit of FIG. 1 being held;

[0013]FIG. 4, in a top sectional view, illustrates the recoil unit of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 5, in a side sectional view, illustrates a resistance training apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 6, in a top sectional view, illustrates the resistance training apparatus of FIG. 5;

[0016]FIG. 7, in a side view, illustrates the waist support ring of FIG. 5 around the waist of an athlete;

[0017]FIG. 8, in a top view, shows the waist support ring of FIG. 5 isolated from other elements;

[0018]FIG. 9, in a sectional view, illustrates the waist support ring of FIG. 5 with the tube deflated; and,

[0019]FIG. 10, in a sectional view, illustrates the waist support ring of FIG. 5 with the tube inflated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated in a side sectional view, a resistance training apparatus 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The resistance trainer 10 includes an elastic cable 12 that is retractable within a cable tension recoil unit 14. The cable tension recoil unit 14 is optionally secured to an anchor pole 20 via an adjustable pole pivot 18. The cable tension recoil unit 14 is optionally secured to an anchor pole 20 via an adjustable pole pivot 18. Alternatively, the cable tension recoil unit 14 may be held by a handle 14 a thereof. When secured to an anchor pole 20, the height of the recoil unit 14 can be adjusted by adjusting the height of adjustable pole pivot 18. Specifically, adjustable pole pivot 18 includes a pivotable element 18 a that is attached to the recoil unit 14. Mounted on the anchor pole 20 above and below the pivot element 18 a are unpivotable elements 18 b. These unpivotable elements 18 b are detachably secured to the anchor pole 20 by clamps 18 c. Clamps 18 c can be tightened to secure elements 18 b to the pole, and can be loosened to permit the height of elements 18 b to be adjusted, thereby adjusting the height of element 18 a and the recoil unit 14 attached thereto.

[0021] The anchor pole 20 may be secured to a wall, to arena boards surrounding an ice rink, or fixed in the ground. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, the anchor pole 20 may be anchored within an insert 38 frozen into ice 39.

[0022] According to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the free end of the elastic cable 12—the end that is not attached to the recoil unit 14—can be tied around the waist of an athlete. Then, the athlete can skate away from the recoil unit 14. As the elastic cable 12 is stretched further and further, it will pull the athlete back toward the recoil unit 14 with stronger and stronger force. Therefore, the skater must skate more and more strongly to resist this force. When the skater desires a rest, he or she can move closer to the recoil unit 14. This will alleviate the force exerted by the elastic cable 12.

[0023] The recoil unit 14 exerts a small retraction force on the elastic cable 12 that is sufficient to retract the elastic cable 12 back within the recoil unit 14. When most of the tension is removed from the elastic cable 12, it will be retracted within the recoil unit 14. This prevents the skater from tripping over the elastic cable 12, or possibly cutting the elastic cable 12 using the skate blades. In other words, without the recoil unit 14, the elastic cable 12 would lie on the ice and would be in the way of the skater.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, different embodiments of the recoil unit 14 are illustrated in more detail than in FIG. 1. Specifically, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a hand-held version of the recoil unit 14, including the handle 14 a is illustrated in side sectional views. As shown, the recoil unit 14 includes a recoil wheel 40 that is biased to turn in a first direction to retract the cord 12 back into the recoil unit 14. Referring to FIG. 4, the interior mechanism of the recoil unit 14 is illustrated. As shown the bias of the recoil wheel to move in the first direction is provided by a recoil spring 42. This recoil spring stores potential energy as the recoil wheel 40 is rotated in a second direction when the cord 12 is pulled out of the recoil unit against the biasing force exerted by the recoil spring 42. When the force pulling the cord 12 out of the recoil unit 14 is released, the potential energy stored in the recoil spring 42 is released. The recoil force provided by the recoil spring 42 is strong enough to retract the cord 12, but is small compared to the force required to stretch the cord 12.

[0025] The recoil unit 14 may also include a lock (not shown) for locking the recoil wheel 40 against rotation in the second direction to prevent additional length of the cord 12 from being released by the recoil unit 14. This can be used where, for example, only a very restricted skating space is available to the user.

[0026] While the present invention may be practiced to advantage in accordance with the above-described embodiment including a recoil unit 14 and elastic cable 12, according to a further preferred embodiment, the invention includes a waist support ring 30 for surrounding the waist of the athlete to secure the athlete to the elastic cable 12. Referring to FIG. 5, this preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in a side sectional view. As shown, the preferred embodiment includes the elastic cable 12, recoil unit 14 and cable stop ball 16. Cable stop ball 16 is too large to be retracted within the recoil unit 14 thereby ensuring that at least part of the elastic cable 12 will always extend out of the recoil unit 14, making it easier to attach the cable 12 to athletes. However, according to this embodiment of the invention there is also provided a waist support ring 30. Referring to FIG. 6, the apparatus of FIG. 5 is shown in a top view. The waist support ring 30 includes a tube 32 that is inflatable to conform to the dimensions of the user, and a tube cover 31 surrounding the tube 32. The tube cover 31 provides a barrier between the tube 32 and the user's skin or clothes. The elastic cable 12 is shown attached to the waist support ring 30 at cable ring connectors 60. These features of the waist support ring 30 are illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 7 to 10. In FIG. 7, the waist support ring 30 is shown around the waist of an athlete 48. In FIG. 8, the waist support ring is shown in a top view isolated from other elements such as the cable 12.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the waist support ring is illustrated in more detail in sectional views. Specifically, FIG. 9 shows waist support ring 30 with tube 32 deflated, while FIG. 10 shows waist support ring 30 with tube 32 inflated. The tube 32 is mounted on the inner surface 64 c of a rotary housing 64. This rotary housing 64 houses a rotary ring 62. Cable ring connectors 60 are attached to rotary ring 62. Rotary ring 62 is free to rotate relative to rotary housing 64 such that the rotary housing 64, inflatable tube 32 and the athlete surrounded by the tube 32 can rotate relative to the rotary ring 62, cable ring connectors 60 and the ends of the cable 12 attached thereto. The housing 64 includes an annular housing recess 64 d that extends all the way around the housing 64. The rotary housing 64 is constructed of two housing elements 64 a fastened together using screws 64 b. The two housing elements 64 a are aligned on opposite sides of the rotary ring such that the housing recess 64 d receives the rotary ring 62.

[0028] The tube 32 includes a thickened portion 34 adjoining the inner surface 64 c of the rotary housing 64. When the tube 32 is inflated by an inflation valve 66, this thickened portion 34 of the tube 32 resists stretching due to the rise in the internal pressure of the tube 32. This stretching is instead imparted to the interior portions 33 of the tube 32, which expand to engage the waist of the athlete, and to conform snugly to his or her shape.

[0029] The tube 32 is detachably attached by a hook and loop configuration 65—i.e. VelcroTM—to the inner surface 64 c of the rotary housing 64.

[0030] Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. For example, the waist support ring may be used in other ways than those described above. For example, two waist support rings might be secured to different skaters, who each then try to skate in different directions to provide the resistance that the other strains against. Alternatively, the waist support ring may be used in non-sport contexts. Further, the rotary ring may be replaced with a rotary element that is not a ring, but moves within an annular track on the rotary housing. All such modifications or variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto. 

1. A body-securing apparatus for attaching a cord to a body, the apparatus comprising: a body-securing portion for securing the body, and a cord-attachment means for securing the cord to the body-securing portion, the cord-attachment means being attached to, and moveable around, the body-securing portion.
 2. The body-securing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the cord-attachment means comprises a rotary element for rotating about the body, and the body-securing portion comprises a rotary housing surrounding the body, the rotary element being movably mounted in the rotary housing.
 3. The body-securing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the body-securing portion comprises an inflatable tube for surrounding the body, the inflatable tube being, attached to the rotary housing, and inflatable to substantially conform to the dimensions of the body to secure the body-securing portion to the body.
 4. The body-securing apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the rotary housing is substantially circular and has an inner surface for attachment to the inflatable tube and an outer surface having an element-receiving means for receiving the rotary element, the element-receiving means extends completely around the outer surface of the rotary housing, and the rotary element is movable within the element-receiving means such that the rotary element is movable around the rotary housing.
 5. The body-securing apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the inflatable tube has an outer wall portion extending substantially inward from the inner surface of the rotary housing, and an inner wall portion for engaging the body, the inner wall portion being less resistant to stretching than the outer wall portion such that inflation of the inflatable tube is substantially inward toward the body.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the inflatable tube is detachable from the rotary housing.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the inflatable tube is attached to the inner surface of the rotary housing by a hook and loop attachment means.
 8. A resistance training apparatus for resisting movement of the person, the apparatus comprising the body-securing apparatus as defined in claim 1; and an elastic cord for attaching to the body-securing apparatus to resist movement of the person secured by the body-securing apparatus tending to elongate the elastic cord.
 9. The training apparatus as defined in claim 8 further comprising an anchoring means for securing a first end of the elastic cord, the other end of the elastic cord being secured to the cord-attachment means of the body-securing means.
 10. The training apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising a recoil unit for retracting the elastic cord, the first end of the elastic cord being recoilably attached to the recoil unit such that the elastic cord is retractable into the recoil unit, the recoil unit being attached to the anchoring means.
 11. The training apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the anchoring means comprises an anchor pole, and the training apparatus further comprises an attachment means for attaching the recoil unit to the anchor pole at different heights.
 12. The training apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the anchoring means further comprises a pivot mounted about the anchor pole, the pivot being rotatable about the anchor pole and being securable to the anchor pole at different heights.
 13. A resistance training apparatus for resisting movement of an athlete, the apparatus comprising an elastic cord for attaching to the athlete to resist movement tending to elongate the elastic cord; and, a recoil unit for retracting the elastic cord, a first end of the elastic cord being recoilably attached to the recoil unit such that the elastic cord is retractable into the recoil unit.
 14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising a body-securing apparatus as defined in claim
 1. 15. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising a body-securing apparatus as defined in claim
 2. 16. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising a bodysecuring apparatus as defined in claim
 4. 17. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising a body-securing apparatus as defined in claim
 5. 18. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising a body-securing apparatus as defined in claim
 6. 